Gas geysers can prove fatal, reveals Victoria Hospital study

BENGALURU: Gas geysers may put us at risk of losing our lives due to emission of some poisonous gases. A forensic expert study at Victoria Hospital here has highlighted the risk factors of using gas geysers without following proper safety precautions. Purchasing substandard gas geysers may prove to be silent killers.

Dr Venkat Raghav, the head of forensic science at Victoria Hospital, explaining about the risk factors, said, “People in cities adopt modern lifestyles and culture. Everything is constantly changing, from dressing sense to interior designs of bathrooms. Such a lifestyle is taking a toll on people’s lives. These facts have been revealed in a study conducted by forensic specialists”.

In many cases, people who went into the bathroom have died suspiciously. This is because they may have suffocated after inhaling carbon monoxide that may have leaked from a substandard gas geyser in the bathroom. Such cases of death are increasing due to gas geyser leakage, Dr Venkat Raghav added.

The forensic expert further said, “As I have seen, such cases are brought to the hospital after the death in the bathroom. According to the post-mortem reports, they died of suffocation after inhaling carbon monoxide, which goes into the lungs while taking a shower. I have come across at least 15-20 such cases and 8-10 of them were reported in the districts. The major reason for this is that people are using substandard gas geysers”.

Dr Venkat suggests the public purchase good quality geysers. There is a need to take some precautions, including, keeping gas cylinders outside the bathroom and ensure enough ventilation. In many of the cases, women or children are the victims. Now, a team of doctors from Victoria Hospital has come forward to sensitise people about such cases.